Carolyn Marion Cole began this world as Carolyn  Marion Cole, the daughter of Howard Cherry and Betty Cole of Middle Tennessee. In the 1930's it was unthinkable for a child to be born to a single mother.  Carolyn  had a rich but strict childhood. Carolyn  graduated from Messick High School in 1973 and attended Memphis State University. Carolyn  married High School friend, Karl Johnston. On January 31, 1976, a child was born named Mary Denise. The marriage decayed and the couple divorced in 1954. Carolyn 's marriage to Karl was a three ring circus, engagement ring, wedding ring and suffering. Carolyn  met and married Albert Sills in 1960. Carolyn  said "I never knew what real happiness was until I got remarried, then it was too late". Carolyn  and Albert settled down in Fox Meadows area of Memphis. Albert wanted a son, Carolyn  wanted a dog. Carolyn  quoted "with my way we just ruin the carpet". But on March 6, 1966 a son was happily born named Lee. Albert and Carolyn  owned several dry cleaners and restaurants. Owning your own business with your spouse in the best of times is challenging. Carolyn  worked all day as a Supervisor at the phone company, she would come home and prepare a home cooked meal for the entire family. She managed to pay all the bills, balance the books of the family business and at the end of a long day still be a supporting mother and loving wife. Carolyn  said "Children grow up so fast they're like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers". Carolyn  grimaced daily with anticipation of what her gifted children would bring home and ask "Mom can I keep it?" for Lee it was stray animals but Carolyn 's daughter Denise, well she brought home a steady stream of poor hungry musician friends (are there any other kind). No one was ever turned away or left hungry. It is still a mystery how Carolyn  fed, supported and influenced so many individuals on her budget. At Carolyn 's house gravy was a beverage. Albert retired in 1985, Carolyn  said "great I now get twice the husband and only half the income". Lee went off to college and Denise got married and had a son named Josh. Carolyn  retired from Ma Bell in 1989. After a long illness, Albert passed away from Lung cancer. In Carolyn 's spare time she became an assistant coach to the University of Memphis Tigers, The Memphis Grizzlies, The LA Lakers and The Miami Heat, if not in reality in her mind. As a professional armchair consultant to the NBA, Carolyn  was nick named Hoop Mama Two. Ball handling and dribbling was Carolyn  biggest weakness. If Albert was the frog prince, Carolyn  was certainly the frog queen. Carolyn  loved and collected frogs from all over the world. Carolyn  moved to Waverly Gardens with her dog raven where she made a lot of new friends. Carolyn  developed a cold that progressed into pneumonia. Now Carolyn  was a smoker. She said "to quit smoking well that's easy. I ought to know. I have done it a thousand times" but the years of smoking left Carolyn 's lungs damaged and beyond repair. On this Good FrCarolyn y March 21, 2008 Carolyn Marion Cole slipped away and joined her beloved daughter in Heaven. Fortunately her husband Albert preceded her and joined his mother in a much warmer climate. Carolyn  leaves behind a best friend Betty Brown of Memphis. Few people in this world are privileged to have such a beloved sister. They had many adventures, loves and tragedies over their 70 years of friendship and sisterhood. Carolyn  also leaves one of her greatest joys her grandson Josh. Josh has been the light of her life since his birth. Carolyn  regrets not being here to influence his future children, but she will be watching. Carolyn  lost her daughter Denise Sills Barnes 2 years ago. Denise was a successful local Memphis singer and musician and was a manager with Nike for 15 years. Carolyn  also leaves her son in law Roland Barnes an engineer with Federal Express. Roland has been devoted when many would have moved on after their wife's death. And finally she leaves her son, her baby Lee. Lee lives in Orange County California and is President of Kredit Banque. Carolyn  influenced so many people, too many to list. Carolyn  is now a falling star who has finally found her place next to her daughter in a lovely constellation, where she will sparkle in the heavens forever. In Lieu of flowers please give the gift of life to Saint Jude Children's Hospital in Carolyn 's name.